bewrightback | IC Inbox [Empatheias]

[Despite having already given him something, it didn’t feel right to leave him nothing to open on Christmas. Maya seems to be absent from the house that morning, but tucked neatly under the tree is a flat, nicely wrapped box (she didn’t wrap it herself) with a folded piece of paper taped to the top.]

Nick,

I’m sorry that I’m not there to celebrate Christmas morning with you so make sure you have extra amounts of fun with Trucy for me, alright? I’m counting on you. Guess this is my way of saying thank you for everything, and for having patience with me...

I made these myself, but don’t worry! I followed an actual recipe this time!

Merry Christmas. See you soon! :)

Love,
Maya

[It’s a simple little gift, really -- an assortment of chocolates in a Sweetie Pies Bakery box. They definitely look like they’re homemade because many of them are distorted in shape and don’t fit properly in the tin square slots. There are colourful squiggly lines on some of them, and others have what was her attempt at drawing a tiny attorney’s badge with icing. Enjoy!]

[ a large package arrives at phoenix's doorstep. it is a lamp with a stupid zigzag pattern. attached is a letter, which reads: ]

Dearest Barbed Head,

May you enjoy your holidays with this present.

Truly yours,
Rayfa Padma Khura'in

Merry Christmas.

-Your Secret Santa

[ That's it. That's all the note says. There's not even any indication of where this thing might've come from. The box is very light, though. What's inside...

If you guessed "a pair of socks", you'd be correct! More specifically, they're red-and-white, snowflake-patterned fuzzy socks. Hey, at least they're soft. And very warm. Perfect for the winter, right?

Luckily, the fuzzy socks appear to be accompanied by a normal, non-fuzzy pair of white socks. Just in case. ]

[ WHY ISN'T TRUCY JUST GIVING THIS TO HIM?? It's a mystery to us all! Either way, this lucky duck is getting a coffee maker for all of his caffeinated drink needs, and a smart looking winter coat for the man who doesn't want to die in the cold but wants to look sharp as a tack! ]

Daddy,

MERRY CHRISTMAS I HAD TO DO THIS SO YOU WOULDN'T PEEK AT YOUR PRESENTS EARLY! I really hope you like them!

Love,

Your favorite child

[It's late, probably later than it should be for her to be knocking on the door to Phoenix's room, but she does anyway. Maya hadn't been sleeping very well the past few weeks for numerous reasons. One of them being that giant bomb that Apollo dropped on her before he disappeared, and there was a lot that still needed explaining. There was only one person who could shed some light on it in Apollo's absence, and Maya is finally talking to him again.

So, there's a not-so-gentle palm slapping against his door. Hopefully it doesn't wake Trucy up?]

Nick! Open up!

[Hope Wright was ready for a loud knock at his door this morning to find Dhurke has made a surprised visit.]

Hap'piraki! I hope I wasn't interrupting anything. I just thought it's a fine day for a walk through the park with a friend, don't you agree? [what?]

[On the morning of April 1st, Wright is going to find a small box set down beside his mailbox. Inside was a set of mochi and a bonsai tree with a small kit. There is a card attached to these gifts as well. The handwriting was a tad sloppy, but still readable.]

Happy Birthday, Phoenix!

I hope you find these gifts to your liking. I was told you had a plant named Charley in your office, and thought you'd like to have a bonsai tree. They're very easy to care for, but if you ever have questions, please feel free to ask me. May you have a wonderful birthday!

Sincerely, Naruhodou Ryuunosuke

[Oh... What's this? This is a new little bonsai tree that she's never seen before, and one that she doesn't remember bringing home or being given. She knows Phoenix's birthday has just passed, so okay, it's probably his.

Maya takes a moment to take a close look at it, a finger against her lips as she leans to look at it from all sides, even turning it to see it better. Of course, it being a bonsai tree, Maya searches around the pot for a little pair of trimmers that she's seen people use to shape these things and she finds them tucked safely beneath the pot. Sliding her fingers through them, she gives it a few test snips in the air before moving her steady hand close to the tree.

So you're supposed to trim off the little bits that grow longer than the rest, right? To keep the shape nice and orderly, right? Why else would you snip them? How hard can it be...? As delicately as possible, Maya picks one bundle of green and begins to snip away, eyes wide and focused as she takes a deep breath before each movement.

Easy does it...

After a few more minutes of careful observation, admiration, and more trimming, Maya stands back to admire her work, but... Ah! Missed a spot!

One more should do the trick! SSSSNNNNIIIIIII—] Whoops.

[It was a trick of the eye or something (she has good hand-eye coordination usually!!), because not only is it the green bush she trimmed this time, but one smaller offshoot of it off in its entirety and into the pot below. For a long time, all Maya can do is stare at it in horror while the lights in the room flicker and feelings of dread and regret settle in the pits of her stomach, freezing her on the spot. What has she done...?

Quick, Maya. Think of a solution, fast!!!

She searches the room as if it will provide her with the answer she needs, but she finds nothing. Just three pairs of eyes as the two dogs and wyvern watch her. Frowning, Maya slams the trimmer down next to the pot and scurries off to the kitchen, her stern gaze meeting with the animals' before she disappears.]

Don't you dare say anything, you three!

[She rummages through their kitchen junk drawer (everyone has one, okay?) in search of a solution, and... AH-HA!!!

The next time Phoenix goes to look closely at his bonsai tree, he might notice that there's one particular branch that's been meticulously reattached with a lot of clear tape. Sorry!!!]

[It's a little strange - her egg has been taking a lot longer to hatch than the rest, especially after seeing Eikichi's broadcast over the network a little over a month ago. Has it really been that long? Is she doing something wrong? She doesn't know. Is it maybe just as stubborn as she is? Perhaps.

Regardless, Maya has had a wyvern egg hiding away in her room for a while. She knows Phoenix would never dare wander in there and in the off-chance that he does, no need for her to fret! She's really good at hiding things. At least... she will be until the damn thing hatches. Whenever that is.

Lucky for her, when she's done greeting Phoenix, the dogs, and Charley upon re-entering the house after a long day on her feet at work, Maya is quick to ascend to her bedroom to kick up her feet and get in some zees. But of course, she has to check on the wyvern egg before she gets too comfy.

And much to her surprise, tiny little cracks splinter the surface of the very colourful blue egg and for a long while, all she can do is stare down at it with wide, panicked eyes. It's not until another crack appears that she snaps out of it and immediately calls out.]

Niiiiiiiick!?

*KICKS DOWN THE DOOR TO THIS INBOX ON DEC 25*

25 december, messenger bird.

12/25

12/25

1/02 action

01/07

no subject

near the beginning of april idk, but you dont need to respond

let's go with 6/14 also I forgot about the bonsai tree

KICKS DOWN THE DOOR TO THIS INBOX ON DEC 25